1954 Austin Healey 100/4

Description

“The Austin-Healey 100 is a perfect example of fairly ordinary components assembled together in such an ingenious manner that the results are almost unbelievable,” Road & Track magazine wrote after testing one of the first Austin-Healeys imported to America in 1953. The British automaker made waves in the sports car world that year when two of its factory-specification cars clinched second and third place in class at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, even surpassing many purpose-built competitors to secure 12th and 14th place overall. Austin-Healey also competed well at the ’53 Mille Miglia.  

The impressive performance of these cars sparked a surge in demand for the 100/4. So did the striking body design by Donald Healey and Geoff Coker, with its almost Italian flair. Power came from an Austin A-90 four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors, mated a three-speed manual transmission with Laycock de Normanville electric overdrive. At $2,985, the Austin-Healey 100/4 was both a modern and affordable 100-mph sports car.  

This matching-numbers 1954 100/4 underwent a full rotisserie restoration that was completed approximately 10 years ago and has won multiple first-place show awards since. 

Highlights 

• British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate  

• Finished in Carmine Red paint with red top over red interior 

• Detailed body-colored undercarriage 

• Powered by a numbers-matching 2.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors rated at 90 hp  

• Smooth-shifting original three-speed manual with working overdrive 

• The chassis number (BN1L156544) decodes as: 

  • B – 2000-2999cc 

  • N – Two-seat tourer  

  • 1 – Four-cylinder engine  

  • L – Left-hand drive  

  • 156544 – Serial number 

Features 

• Upgrades and recent service include: 

  • Electronic ignition 

  • Aluminum radiator 

  • New starter 

  • New clutch in 2022 

  • Brakes inspected and serviced, and oil and fluids were changed in preparation for sale    

• Twin bucket seats with belts 

• Dash instrumentation: 120 mph speedometer and odometer, 6000 rpm tachometer, water temperature, il pressure, and fuel level  

• Wire wheels 

• Dunlop SP4 165SR15 tires  

Known Imperfections 

• Several small chips on the underside that have been corrected 

Included 

• Tonneau cover  

• Side curtains 

• Spare tire 

• Jack 

• Newer wooden knock-off tool and Thor hammer 

• Spare working 1954 cylinder head 

• Spare 'M' style louvered bonnet painted to match car 

• Miscellaneous components and small parts 

• Original shop manuals 

• Folder with records and receipts since 1990 

Ownership History 

The consignor of this 1954 Austin Healey 100/4 has owned it since July 2019. The car began its life in the southwestern portion of the U.S. and was purchased and brought north in 1990 by the previous owner. Restored about 10 years ago, the consignor states that the Healey “is an excellent example of a full rotisserie restoration that has been well taken care of.” It has spent the last six years in Pennsylvania, as well as in Arizona as a snowbird show car.